Tuesday, November 01, 2011

Pink Confections: Beauty Tutorial

Is foxy your middle name? Don't be afraid to answer this question because the only response I will accept is "yes"!

This week, I have been mixing upscale, luxury products and drugstore finds to create new beauty looks. This beauty look "Pink Confections" is great for a night out with your girlfriends or a funky, daytime look.

FACE

While I am on the hunt for a new "favorite" liquid foundation, I have been using drugstore concealer mixed with moisturizer as a replacement. Weird, right? Well, it's a lot like buying orange juice in the freezer aisle and adding water. As long as I first prime my skin with moisturizer and apply concealer sparingly and evenly with my fingertips, it looks like normal foundation.

My affordable Neutrogena 3-in-1 Concealer for Eyes (roughly $7!) works great layered over a healthy dose of moisturizer. Before applying concealer though, I have been pampering my face with high-end oxygenating skin creams or basic Body Shop Aloe Soothing Day Cream ($16). I love how the concealer is very lightweight but offers a lot of coverage in "problem" areas. (Other recommended drugstore concealers are Revlon Photoready Concealer, $9, and Iman Second to None Cover Cream, $13.)

So once your face is prepped, we'll talk about lips.

LIPS

No smile is complete without fabulous lip color. If you are in the market for an upscale lipstick, I recommend Dior Addict lipstick in Model ($28, Sephora). Maybe the name Model appeals to my vanity (ack! blush!) or fashion nerdiness (deep passions!), but the sheer wash of pink is angelic and suits me quite well. A makeup artist working for the Dior team recommended this shade to moi. Other Dior lip shades you might like are Granville, Couture and Stiletto.

EYES

Next, apply Revlon Expressionists Starry Pink eye shadow, designed by Gucci Westman. Always apply eye primer on eyelids first to keep glittery shadow, and then dab the shadow evenly across eyelids with the applicator. Add more for a night out, and less for daytime. I am in love with this shade, which reminds me of glittery druzy stones and happy birthday parties.

Pretty in Pink: Revlon Eye Shadow

You can find this eyeshadow in drugstores in special Revlon displays labeled "Expressionists."